Liebestrasse

Against the tense backdrop of Hitler’s rise to power, two men develop a simmering sexual romance in this poignant historical graphic novel debut. Samuel Wells, a venture capitalist from America, becomes enamored with blonde-haired German Philip Adler, who introduces Samuel to queer, liberal circles in Weimar Berlin. Moments of blissful domesticity and tasteful post-tryst aftermaths give moving glimpses into Samuel and Philip’s passionate affair that juxtapose with scenes of the attacks Hitler’s regime makes against Berlin’s queer community. When their relationship culminates in an arrest, which loses Samuel his job, Samuel questions if his and Philip’s flagrant display is to blame. As Samuel’s option to escape back to America becomes a real possibility, their relationship fractures. Lockard enjoyably balances establishing the real world of 1930s Berlin with prioritizing the sultry feel of the fictional romance. The art is rendered in strong, inky lines by Fish with colorist Héctor Barros’s gentle full-color palette. Back matter provides further context on the time period. It’s a rare glimpse of queer men attempting to survive one of the darkest eras of modern history. (June)